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chemistry of the atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

For how long as the proportions of gases in the atmosphere have been much the same as they are today?

A
  • For 200 million years, the proportions of different gases in the
    atmosphere have been much the same as they are today:
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2
Q

What percentage of our atmosphere is made up of nitrogen?

A
  • About 4/5 (approx. 80%)
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3
Q

What percentage of our atmosphere is made up of oxygen?

A
  • About 1/5 (approx. 20%)
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4
Q

What makes up the rest of our atmosphere?

A
  • Small proportions of various other gases, including carbon
    dioxide, water vapour and noble gases.
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5
Q

Why is evidence for the early atmosphere limited?

A
  • Evidence for the early atmosphere is limited because of the time scale of 4.6 billion years.
  • Theories about what was in the Earth’s early atmosphere and how
    the atmosphere was formed have changed and developed over
    time.
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6
Q

What does one theory suggest about the formation of the early atmosphere? (Phase One)

A
  • One theory suggests that during the first billion years of the Earth’s existence there was intense volcanic activity
  • This released gases that formed the early atmosphere
  • Volcanoes​ ​also​ ​produced​ ​nitrogen​​ ​which​ ​gradually​ ​built​ ​up​ ​in the​ ​atmosphere​ ​&​ ​there​ ​may​ ​have​ ​been​ ​small​ ​proportions​ ​of methane​​​ ​​and​​ ammonia​
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7
Q

What does one theory suggest about the formation of the early atmosphere? (Phase Two)

A
  • When water vapour in the atmosphere condensed it formed the oceans
  • Lots of CO2 was removed from the early atmosphere as it dissolved in the oceans
  • Later, marine animals evolved
  • Green plants an algae also evolved and absorbed some of the CO2 so they could carry out photosynthesis
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8
Q

What does one theory suggest about the formation of the early atmosphere? (Phase Three)

A
  • As well as absorbing CO2, green plants and algae produced oxygen by photosynthesis
  • Algae evolved first
  • Then over the next billion years or so, green plants also evolved
  • As percentage of oxygen built up in the atmosphere over time, more complex life (animals) could evolve
  • Eventually about 200 million years ago, the atmosphere reached a composition similar to how it is today
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9
Q

What did the shells and skeletons of marine animals contain?

A
  • Some of the carbonates from the ocean
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10
Q

How are fossil fuels/ sedimentary rocks formed?

A
  • When plants, plankton and marine animals die, they fall to the seabed and get buried by layers of sediment
  • Over millions of years they become compressed and for sedimentary rocks, oil and gas - trapping the carbon within them
  • These fossil fuels form reservoirs under the seabed where they get trapped in rocks
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11
Q

Name sedimentary rocks

A
  • Coal
  • Limestone
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12
Q

What is coal made from?

A
  • Thick plant deposits
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13
Q

What is limestone mostly made of?

A
  • Calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms
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14
Q

What are crude oil and natural gas formed from?

A
  • Deposits of plankton
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15
Q

What may have the early atmosphere been similar to?

A
  • At the start of this period the Earth’s atmosphere may have been like the atmospheres of Mars and
    Venus today
  • Consisting of mainly carbon dioxide with little or no oxygen gas.
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16
Q

What caused oceans to form?

A
  • The condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere
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17
Q

What happened when the oceans formed?

A
  • When the oceans formed carbon dioxide dissolved in the water
  • The dissolved CO2 went through a series of reactions to form carbonates precipitates
  • The carbonates were precipitated producing sediments on the seabed
  • This reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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18
Q

What first produced oxygen and when?

A
  • Algae first produced oxygen about 2.7 billion years ago
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19
Q

Explain how the oxygen that is now in the atmosphere is produced

A
  • Algae and plants produced the oxygen that is now in the atmosphere by photosynthesis
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20
Q

Name the word equation for photosynthesis

A
  • carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen
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21
Q

Name the symbol equation for photosynthesis

A
  • 6CO2 + 6H2O —> C6H1206 + 6O2
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22
Q

How is the level of oxygen in our atmosphere increased?

A
  • Algae​ ​&​ ​plants​ ​produced​ ​the​ ​O​2​​ - photosynthesis
  • Algae​ ​first​ ​produced​ ​oxygen​​ ​and​ ​soon​ ​after​ ​this oxygen​ ​appeared​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere
  • Over​ ​the​ ​next​ ​billion​ ​years​ ​plants​ ​evolved, more oxygen was produced
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23
Q

How was carbon removed from our atmosphere?

A
  • The shells and skeletons of marine animalscontained some of these carbonates from the ocean
  • Some CO2 absorbed by green plants and algae
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24
Q

How was the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere decreased?

A
  • Algae​ ​and​ ​plants​ ​decreased​ ​the​ ​%​ ​CO​2​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere​ ​by​ ​photosynthesis
  • CO2​ ​​ ​was​ ​also​ ​decreased​ ​by​ ​the​ ​formation​ ​of​ ​sedimentary​ ​rocks​ ​that​ ​contain carbon​ ​(e.g.​ ​​ ​limestone​ ​and​ ​coal)​ ​
  • And​ ​by​ ​the​ ​production​ ​of​ ​fossil​ ​fuels​ ​from​ ​the remains​ ​of​ ​dead​ ​plants​ ​and​ ​animals​ ​when​ ​they​ ​decayed
25
What is the purpose of greenhouse gases?
* Maintain​ ​temperatures​ ​on​ ​earth​ ​high​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​support​ ​life
26
Name greenhouse gases
* ​Water​ ​vapour, * ​CO2​ ​​ ​ *​ ​CH4​
27
Explain the greenhouse gas effect
* Electromagnetic​ ​radiation​ ​at​ ​most​ ​wavelengths​ ​(both​ ​long​ ​and​ ​short) from​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​​ ​passes​ ​through​ ​the​ ​Earth’s​ ​atmosphere * The​ ​Earth​ ​absorbs​ ​some​ ​radiation​ ​and​ ​thus​ ​warms​ ​up​ ​(essential​ ​for​ ​life​ ​on Earth).​ ​But​ ​some​ ​heat​ ​is​ ​radiated​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Earth​ ​as​ ​infrared​ ​radiation. * Some​ ​of​ ​this​ ​IR​ ​radiation​ ​is​ ​absorbed​ ​by​ ​greenhouse​ ​gases​ ​in​ ​the atmosphere * Atmosphere​ ​warms​ ​up​ ​leading​ ​to​ ​the​ ​greenhouse​ ​effect​ ​and​ ​global warming
28
What do human activities cause an increase in?
* Activities​ ​increase​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​CO2​ ​​​&​ ​CH4​
29
Name human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
* Burning fossil fuels * Agriculture (raising livestock) * Deforestation * Creating waste / decay​ ​of​ ​organic​ ​waste​ ​in​ ​landfill​ ​sites​
30
How can burning fossil fuels affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
* Carbon that was 'locked up' in these fuels is released as CO2
31
How can deforestation affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
* Fewer trees mean less CO2 is removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis
32
How can agriculture affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
* More farm animals produce more ethane through their digestive processes
33
How can creating waste affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
* More landfill sites and more waste from agriculture means ore CO2 and methane released by decomposition of waste
34
What do many scientists believe based on peer reviewed evidence in terms of human activity and the Earth's atmosphere?
* Based​ ​on​ ​peer-reviewed​ ​evidence,​ ​many​ ​scientists​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​human​ ​activities will​ ​cause​ ​the​ ​temperature​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Earth’s​ ​atmosphere​ ​to​ ​increase​ ​at​ ​the​ ​surface * ​This​ ​will​ ​result​ ​in​ ​global​ ​climate​ ​change
35
Why is peer review of results and communicating results to a wide range of audiences important?
* So you know that the information is reliable
36
Why is it hard to fully understand the Earth's climate?
* Because ​it​ ​is​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​model​ ​such​ ​complex​ ​systems​ ​as​ ​global​ ​climate change - there are so many variable * It is hard to make a model that isn't oversimplified * This​ ​leads​ ​to​ ​simplified​ ​models,​ ​speculation​ ​and​ ​opinions​ ​presented​ ​in the​ ​media​ ​that​ ​may​ ​be​ ​based​ ​on​ ​only​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​evidence​ ​and​ ​which may​ ​be​ ​biased or only some of the information give.
37
What is a major cause of global climate change?
* An​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​average​ ​global​ ​temperature​ ​is​ ​a​ ​major​ ​cause​ ​of​ ​climate​ ​change
38
What are the potential effects of global climate change?
* Extinction​ ​of​ ​species * Melting of polar ice caps * Migration * Decrease​ ​in​ ​crop​ ​yield​ ​for​ ​all​ ​major​ ​world​ ​crops * Changes in rainfall pattern
39
Why might global climate change increase migration?
* People​ ​will​ ​move​ ​from​ ​areas​ ​suffering​ ​drought/flooding
40
What is the effect of melting polar ice caps?
* Rising​ ​sea​ ​levels​ ​ * Increased flooding in coastal areas & coastal erosion
41
What is the effect of changes in rainfall pattern?
* May cause some regions to get too much or too little water * May affect the ability of certain regions to produce food
42
Define carbon footprint
* The​ ​total​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​CO2​ ​​ ​and​ ​other​ ​greenhouse​ ​gases​ ​emitted over​ ​the​ ​full​ ​life​ ​cycle​ ​of​ ​a​ ​product,​ ​service​ ​or​ ​event.
43
Why is it very hard to measure the total carbon footprint of something?
* There are many different factors to consider
44
How can we reduce our carbon footprint?
* It​ ​can​ ​be​ ​reduced​ ​by​ ​reducing​ ​emissions​ ​of​ ​carbon​ ​dioxide​ ​and​ ​methane​
45
Give example on how we can reduce our carbon footprint
* Using​ ​less​ ​electricity​ ​so​ ​​less​ ​fossil​ ​fuels are used​ ​ * Using​ ​an​ renewable energy sources * Reducing​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​travel​ ​or​ ​transportation​ ​of​ ​either​ ​goods or​ ​people)​ * Planting​ ​more​ ​trees. * Governments could create a GHG tax based on the amount of GHG someone emits * Using more efficient processes - conserve energy & cut waste
46
Why is it difficult to reduce our carbon footprint?
* Action​ ​may​ ​be​ ​limited​ ​because​ ​it’s​ ​more​ ​difficult and​ ​can​ ​be​ ​more expensive​ * Many renewable energy technologies are still quite expensive * Governments are worried about making changes to reduce GHG emission - could impact economic growth * Planting​ ​trees​ ​takes​ ​away​ ​land​ ​that​ ​could​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​crops. * Hard to make international agreements to reduce emissions * Hard to get people to make changes if they don't want too - lack of education
47
What is a major source of atmospheric pollutants?
* Combustion​ ​of​ ​fuels​ ​is​ ​a​ ​major​ ​source​ ​of​ ​atmospheric​ ​pollutants
48
What do most fuels contain?
* Most​ ​fuels​ ​(​ ​including​ ​coal)​ ​​contain​ ​carbon​​ ​and/or​ ​​hydrogen​​ ​and​ ​may​ ​also contain​ ​some​ ​​sulfur​
49
Name the gases that are released into the atmosphere when a fuel burns
* Carbon​ ​dioxide, * Water​ ​(vapour) ​* Carbon​ ​monoxide, * Oxides​ ​of​ ​nitrogen (which​ ​are​ ​formed​ ​at​ ​high​ ​temperatures).​ ​ * Solid​ ​particles​ ​and​ ​unburned hydrocarbons​ ​may​ ​also​ ​be​ ​released,​ ​forming​ ​particulates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​atmosphere
50
What happens if there is not enough oxygen during combustion?
* If​ ​there’s​ ​not​ ​enough​ ​oxygen,​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fuel​ ​doesn’t​ ​burn​ ​–​ ​this​ ​is partial/​incomplete​ ​combustion​.​ ​ * Here,​ ​solid​ ​particles​ ​of​ ​​soot​​ ​(carbon),​ ​​carbon monoxide​​ ​and​ ​unburnt​ ​fuel​ ​are​ ​released.
51
List atmospheric pollutants
* Carbon monoxide * Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen * Particulates
52
What happens during combustion?
* During​ ​combustion,​ ​the carbon​ ​and​ ​hydrogen​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fuels​ ​are​ ​oxidised​ ​to​ ​form​ ​carbon​ ​dioxide​ ​and water * The​ ​combustion​ ​of​ ​hydrocarbons​ ​releases​ ​energy.​ ​
53
What are the properties of carbon monoxide?
* It is colourless and odourless so not easy to detect
54
How can carbon monoxide impact us and the environment?
* Toxic gas which can stop your blood from carrying oxygen around the body - binds to haemoglobin that normally carries O2 - lack of oxygen can lead to fainting, coma, or death
55
How are nitrogen oxides created?
* From a reaction between the nitrogen and oxygen in the air, caused by the heat of burning e.g. internal combustion engines of cars
56
How is sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere?
* During the combustion of fossil fuels that contain sulfur impurities - the sulfur in the fuel becomes oxidised
57
How can sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen impact us and the environment?
* When mixed with water in clouds, they form dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric ​causing​ ​acid​ ​rain​ - this kills plants and damages buildings and statues, also makes metal corrode * Causes respiratory​ ​problems​ ​in humans if breathed in
58
How can particulates impact us and the environment?
* Bad for the environment as it reflects sunlight back into space, meaning less light reaches the Earth, causing​ ​global​ ​dimming​ ​​ * If inhaled, they can get stuck in the lungs and cause damage - leading to respiratory problems & human​ ​health​ ​problems

ZZ Chem 2 (5 decks)

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